It was founded in 1660 as the village (selo) of Pyshminskoye, which was named after the
Pyshma River.[citation needed] A
copper mine opened here in 1856. Town status was granted to it in 1946.[2]
Town development in 20th century is closely related to copper production. The factory called Uralelectromed developed here and in 1990s it became the main company of
Ural Mining and Metallurgical Company holding. The company
Ural Locomotives is also located there, it produces modern Russian locomotives and trains such as
2ES10 (the most powerful Russian locomotive) and
Lastochka suburban
EMU based on
Siemens Desiro.
Administrative and municipal status
Within the
framework of the administrative divisions, it is, together with the
town of
Sredneuralsk and twenty-seven rural localities, incorporated as the Town of Verkhnyaya Pyshma[1]—an administrative unit with the status equal to that of the
districts.[10] As a
municipal division, Verkhnyaya Pyshma and twenty-four rural localities are incorporated as Verkhnyaya Pyshma Urban Okrug.[5] The town of Sredneuralsk, together with three other rural localities, is incorporated separately as Sredneuralsk Urban Okrug.[5]
Coat of arms
The coat of arms of the town is a griffin holding a gold mirror of Venus. The griffin is the guard of riches and also the symbol of strength of mind. The mirror of Venus represents copper, which is mined in the region.
Ecology and health issues
In late July 2007, the town was hit by an outburst of atypical pneumonia, with 200 infected and 170 death cases. According to the official information, the infection was caused by
Legionella pneumophila virus, which spread through the
water supply network. However, there was much speculation that biological warfare (similarly to
Sverdlovsk anthrax leak in 1979), or the pollution from chemical industry, is responsible for the infection.[citation needed]
Politics
At the regional elections held on 18 September 2016, 62,276 voters were included in the voting lists of the Verkhnepyshma City Election Commission. 24,228 people took part in the elections.
Voting results for elections to the Regional Duma in the urban district of Verkhnyaya Pyshma in a single electoral district:
Областная Дума Законодательного Собрания Свердловской области. Областной закон №30-ОЗ от 20 мая 1997 г. «Об административно-территориальном устройстве Свердловской области», в ред. Закона №32-ОЗ от 25 апреля 2012 г. «О внесении изменений в Областной закон "Об административно-территориальном устройстве Свердловской области"». Вступил в силу со дня официального опубликования за исключением отдельных положений, вступающих в силу в иные сроки. Опубликован: "Областная газета", №81, 3 июня 1997 г. (Oblast Duma of the Legislative Assembly of Sverdlovsk Oblast. Oblast Law #30-OZ of May 20, 1997 On the Administrative-Territorial Structure of Sverdlovsk Oblast, as amended by the Law #32-OZ of April 25, 2012 On Amending the Oblast Law "On the Administrative-Territorial Structure of Sverdlovsk Oblast". Effective as of the day of the official publication with the exception of several clauses which take effect on a different date.).
Областная Дума Законодательного Собрания Свердловской области. Закон №85-ОЗ от 12 июля 2007 г. «О границах муниципальных образований, расположенных на территории Свердловской области», в ред. Закона №107-ОЗ от 29 октября 2013 г. «Об упразднении отдельных населённых пунктов, расположенных на территории города Ивделя, и о внесении изменений в Приложение 39 к Закону Свердловской области "О границах муниципальных образований, расположенных на территории Свердловской области"». Вступил в силу через 10 дней после официального опубликования. Опубликован: "Областная газета", №232–249, 17 июля 2007 г. (Oblast Duma of the Legislative Assembly of Sverdlovsk Oblast. Law #85-OZ of July 12, 2007 On the Borders of the Municipal Formations on the Territory of Sverdlovsk Oblast, as amended by the Law #107-OZ of October 29, 2013 On Abolishing Several Inhabited Localities on the Territory of the Town of Ivdul and on Amending the Law of Sverdlovsk Oblast "On the Borders of the Municipal Formations on the Territory of Sverdlovsk Oblast". Effective as of the day which is 10 days after the official publication.).